Wine & drink in Laos
Including Vientiane Craft Beer Quarter. On the map.
The vibe
Sipping ice-cold local lager while watching the muddy Mekong roll past at dusk is a quiet daily ritual rather than a high-concept cocktail affair. The dry, cooler months make outdoor riverside seating the undisputed place to be from late afternoon onward. The vibe shifts effortlessly from sleepy family-run grocery porches pouring cheap whiskey to low-key backpacker dens humming with acoustic guitars.
Vientiane Craft Beer Quarter
Vientiane Prefecture
Alex Voinich / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
Vientiane has emerged as the center of the burgeoning Lao craft beer scene, featuring independent microbreweries that experiment with local ingredients like jasmine rice and tropical fruits. The tasting vibe is relaxed and social, centered around the city's vibrant riverside and colonial-era streets.
Access. Easily explored on foot or by bicycle within the central districts of Vientiane, particularly near the Mekong waterfront.
Notes. Most breweries have taprooms open in the evenings; no reservations are typically required.